That study found that Apple's iPhone dominated mobile BI. A little more than seven months later, the iPad is in the lead, with "significant deployments," followed by RIM's BlackBerry. However, BlackBerry and Windows Phone interest is declining, according to the new study, while Android devices are finding growing interest, particularly for tablets.

Tabs, Dresner said, "change the way that you work."

"They make a huge difference," he said, with none of the form factor limitations of smartphones.